Misfortune Only Seeks the Poorly Fated

Chapter 45: Misfortune Only Finds the Unlucky

Hu Xiaocao cautiously looked at her mother, her expression tinged with disappointment. She mumbled, "Mom, I couldn't find the herb Grandpa Wu mentioned, so I can't completely cure your illness. Am I useless?"

Hearing this, everyone present felt a pang in their hearts. Even the grown men couldn't help but get teary-eyed.

That girl Xiaocao was just too sensible.

At an age when children should be innocent and carefree, she had too early shouldered the burdens of life, pressing down on her incredibly frail shoulders.

While other children were running and playing everywhere, Hu Xiaocao was already carrying a stool, standing on tiptoe, and tending the fire on a stove taller than herself.

The woman could no longer hold back her tears, her choked sobs turning into quiet weeping, large teardrops falling onto Hu Xiaocao.

Hu Xiaocao felt her shoulders grow warm and realized her mother was crying. She fumbled to comfort her:

"Mom, don't cry. Grandpa Wu is such a good doctor, he'll definitely think of another way to cure you."

Hu Xiaocao felt a pat on her shoulder. She turned her head and saw it was Wu Yuan.

"Xiaocao, look what I have here?"

He dangled a plant in his hand. Its white petals resembled scattered stars, and its leaves were slightly serrated. It was exactly as depicted in the drawing she had held earlier.

Hu Xiaocao's eyes widened, as if she had seen something extraordinary.

"This, this is Moonpetal Grass! Grandpa Wu, where did you find it? I searched the mountain for a long time and didn't see any."

Wu Yuan patted her head. "Silly girl, I found it on you."

Hu Xiaocao's eyes were round, like black grapes hanging from a tree. Her thin face, at this moment, actually looked a bit cute.

She pointed to herself, disbelievingly saying, "Found on me? Grandpa Wu, I didn't pick any Moonpetal Grass."

"That's right. When you fainted, you were clutching this plant in your hand."

It appeared when all hope was lost.

Hearing Wu Yuan's description, Hu Xiaocao froze on the spot. She remembered that when she was about to fall, her hands had been flailing, and it seemed she had grabbed onto something.

Could it be that the plant she grabbed then was Moonpetal Grass!

The mountain god she had seen earlier was not far away. She had even kowtowed and offered wild fruits she had picked.

Perhaps it was because her sincerity was seen that the mountain god manifested and guided her to find the Moonpetal Grass!

In reality, it was all an accident, but Hu Xiaocao couldn't help but overthink.

And it was such a coincidence that Moonpetal Grass grew not far from where Ye Qin was cultivating. Hu Xiaocao also found her way there and witnessed Ye Qin's supernatural ability manifest.

It was as if fate had already decided.

Hu Xiaocao excitedly jumped out of bed, clasping her hands together. "That's wonderful! Grandpa Mountain God really manifested and blessed me to find the Moonpetal Grass!"

She jumped up and down with excitement.

Her mother looked worried. "You child, what nonsense are you talking about? You're still injured, be careful."

Wu Yuan was also puzzled and couldn't help but ask, "Xiaocao, you picked this Moonpetal Grass yourself. Why are you saying it was the mountain god?"

Hu Xiaocao said earnestly, "Because I saw Grandpa Mountain God cultivating, then I made a wish, and then I found it."

Everyone exchanged smiles, taking it as a child's innocent babbling.

Hearing this, the woman also stopped crying and smiled. "It's getting late. Thank you all for today."

Wu Yuan and the others said their goodbyes and left.

After a simple wash, Hu Xiaocao and her mother also lay down to rest.

Due to her excitement, Hu Xiaocao tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Just thinking about seeing the mountain god today made her incredibly thrilled.

Her mother was also puzzled. Hu Xiaocao had been tired all day and was injured, so she should have fallen asleep soundly long ago.

After an unknown amount of time, Hu Xiaocao finally fell into a deep sleep, muttering in her sleep. Vaguely, words like "mountain god," "snake," and "moon" could be heard.

Her mother carefully tucked her in. "This silly child, there's no such thing as a mountain god in the world."

The next morning, with the loud crowing of a rooster, Hu Xiaocao opened her eyes and neatly got dressed and out of bed.

The sky was not yet light, and the lingering night had not yet receded. A black curtain enveloped the village, with wisps of cooking smoke faintly visible.

In the cities, most people were still asleep. However, in the countryside, people always woke up early, and the day's labor began.

The woman struggled to get out of bed. Perhaps due to the anxiety of the previous day, her complexion looked even worse.

"Cough, cough, Xiaocao, why aren't you sleeping in more?"

Hu Xiaocao had returned late yesterday and was already up now, having slept only a few hours in total.

At this moment, Hu Xiaocao was adding firewood to the stove and tending to a simmering pot. She shook her head and said, "No, if I wake up late, there will be even more things to do."

Hu Xiaocao's movements were practiced, clearly indicating she had done this many times before.

Ever since her mother fell ill, most of the household chores had fallen upon her. However, no matter how capable Hu Xiaocao was, there were some things she couldn't manage.

The mother and daughter lacked the ability to work. Fortunately, their kind neighbors often sent them things.

Besides, Xiaocao would also help others by cutting pig feed, gathering firewood, collecting cicada shells, and doing other tasks within her capability to supplement their income.

Despite the mother and daughter's tight circumstances, they weren't starving.

The woman felt guilty and self-blaming. "Xiaocao, it's all my fault. If my body were just a little better, you wouldn't have to suffer so much, with all the household chores falling on your shoulders."

The peers of Hu Xiaocao were much taller and healthier. Hu Xiaocao clearly suffered from malnutrition, thin and bony.

With insufficient nutrition and so much work to do, she looked like she was only five or six years old.

Hu Xiaocao shook her head, tilting her head up. "Mom, I don't feel tired at all. As long as you can get better soon, I'm willing to do anything."

Tears welled up in the woman's eyes. "Good child."

Soon, an indescribable medicinal smell filled the room again. Hu Xiaocao handed the medicine over. "Mom, drink it quickly. You'll feel better right after you drink it."

The food in the stove was also ready soon. Hu Xiaocao put some into an enamel cup, diluted the rest with water, stirred it in the pot, and thus made porridge.

The woman hadn't had a good appetite lately and could only eat this liquid food.

Hu Xiaocao then took a chopstickful of pickled vegetables from the slightly torn pickled vegetable jar next to her. Looking at the nearly empty jar, she felt she had taken a bit too much.

Her hand trembled and trembled, and finally, only a few strands of pickled vegetables remained on the chopsticks. Only then did she feel it was about right. She placed them in the enamel cup, and this constituted her meal for the day.

This was also why Hu Xiaocao was malnourished, as this was what she ate every day.